Poinsettia plant `7-81`

ABSTRACT

A new Poinsettia cultivar, named `7-81`, particularly distinguished by its bicolored, pink on white bracts as described. `7-81` originated as a sport of the cultivar of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,497. Bract characteristics are similar to those of the cultivar of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,384, yet with pink color of the bracts that is softer, with a bicolor contrast less than that of the cultivars of U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 4,810 or 3,393.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Poinsettia of the present invention is a cultivar having the samephysical traits and growth characteristics as the red bracted cultivarof the U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,384, except that this new plant hasbicolored, pink on white flower bracts.

This new Poinsettia cultivar originated as a sport of the cultivar ofU.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,497 in a greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. It wasselected because of traits which distinguish it from other poinsettiacultivars and seem to make it a desirable plant for commercialgreenhouse production. It has all of the desirable vigor, self-branchingand large flower bract characteristics as the other color sports of theU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,384 cultivar. The pink color in the bracts issofter and the bicolor contrast is less than in the cultivar of U.S.Plant Pat. No. 4,810 or U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,393. After selection,vegetatively reproduction of this plant by stem cuttings for testpurposes in Encinitas, Calif., and clones of the plant were subjected tosuccessive generations of vegetative propagation. The physical traitsand growth characteristics remain stable from generation to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

`7-81` is illustrated in the accompanying color photographs. The upperphoto is a side view of a typical unpinched plants in full flower. Thelower photo is a top view of a plant showing flower and bract formation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of this new Poinsettia asobserved in a greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif., during December, 1987.Recorded observations from flowering plants, grown as 3 unpinched plantsper pot were observed. The pot was 14 cm. in diameter and 11 cm. inheight. Color designations were compared to the 1986 edition of R.H.S.Colour Chart, first published in 1966 by The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport of the cultivar of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,497.

Classification:

Botanic.--Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Common name.--Poinsettia.

Cultivar name.--`7-81`.

Form: Shrub.

Height: Medium.

Growth habit: As a single stemmed plant, upright and vigorous. In fullflower, the stem is terminated by a large inflorescence, with severalsmaller flowering side shoots lower on the stem. Observation of 3 plantsin a pot with an overall height of 38 cm. and an overall width of 48 cm.were made. The bract diameter of individual flowers was 32 cm.

Branching: Branching can be enhanced by removal of the stem tip. Then,several flowering branches with equal vigor may develop on a singleplant.

Growth rate: Very fast. Rooting of stem cuttings occurs in 12-18 daysunder intermittent mist. The plant will flower in about ten weeks undercontinuous long night conditions and night temperatures of about 16-18degrees C.

Foliage: The foliage is clean and uniformly green from bottom to top ofthe plant. The leaves are of medium size, leaf blades typically beingabout 14-16 cm. long and about 10-11 cm. wide with leaf petioles about5-6 cm. long.

Leaf shape: Typical leaves are ovate with obtuse bases and acuminatetips. Leaf margins are mostly lobed, with 1-2 lobes and numerous smallmarginal minor indentations on each side of the leaf blade.

Color:

Upper side.--Darker than RHS 137A.

Under side.--Near RHS 137C.

Retention: The foliage retention is good even under low lightintensities in the consumer's home.

Bracts: Generally there are 24-27 bicolored pink on white bracts ofvarious sizes subtending the cyathia. The primary bracts have bladestypically 15-17 cm. long and 10 cm. wide with petioles about 2-3 cm.long.

Shape: Bracts are mostly ovate with acute bases and acuminate tips.Primary bracts are mostly entire with some slight lobing.

Color:

Upper side.--Bicolored: Pink on white bracts. White background near RHS155A. Pink marbling near RHS 51D.

Under side.--Bicolored: White near RHS 155A. Pink near RHS 51D.

Cyathia: Generally, 12-15 cyathia (flowers) are present when the plantis in "full bloom". Each cyathium is about 7-8 mm long and about 5 mmwide, light green in color, but fading to a yellowish fringe at thedistal end. Usually, one bright yellow nectar cup protrudes from theside of the cyathium. The flower pedicel is also light green and about3-4 mm long. The anthers protruding from the cyathia are white.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia cultivar,substantially as herein shown and described, distinguished by itsbicolored, pink on white bracts.